Atlanta is famous for dropping a giant illuminated peach at midnight during its annual New Year's Eve celebration.
The Peach Drop takes place in Atlanta, Georgia, whose nickname and identity are closely connected with the peach. The event was first held in 1989 and became a major public celebration in the city's downtown area. A large peach-shaped object is lowered as midnight approaches, followed by fireworks and live entertainment.
The symbolism reflects Georgia's long association with peach production and the prominence of Peachtree Street in Atlanta's geography and civic identity. The Peach Drop is sometimes compared with New York's Times Square Ball Drop, but the object and local imagery are distinctly Atlanta's.
The celebration has changed venues and formats over the years, and weather, public-safety planning, or special circumstances can affect its staging. The name nevertheless remains one of the clearest examples of a city building a New Year's Eve countdown around a regional symbol.